Intelligent alarm system with snow sensor

Abstract

The intelligent alarm system of the present invention provides a reliable, low cost system for alerting a user to the presence of snow outside of a building. The system includes a sensor and an intelligent alarm clock for use inside a building or dwelling. The system can be set by a user to signal an alarm a programmable amount of time earlier or later than the user's normal waking time if an accumulation of snow is detected. The system is capable of processing preprogrammed data, user entered data and data accumulated from the sensor to determine whether a true snow condition exists and to generate an appropriate alarm signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An intelligent alarm system comprising: a sensor for use inside a building to detect environmental conditions outside of said building adapted to generate a data signal, wherein said sensor comprises a photo sensor and focusing means for measuring reflectance at a point outside of and remote from said building; and   an alarm clock having a microprocessor for receiving said data signal from said sensor and generating an alarm signal in response to said data signal.   
     
     
       2. An intelligent alarm system as in claim 1, wherein said sensor is capable of detecting the presence of snow outside of said building. 
     
     
       3. An intelligent alarm system as in claim 2, further comprising a memory device for storing preprogrammed data, user data and data from said sensor, wherein said microprocessor processes all of said data and generates an alarm signal in response thereto. 
     
     
       4. An intelligent alarm system as in claim 1, further comprising a means for mounting said sensor on the inside of a window. 
     
     
       5. An intelligent alarm system as in claim 1, wherein said sensor measures ambient light scatter outside of said building, and wherein said microprocessor generates an alarm signal from said sensor data. 
     
     
       6. An intelligent alarm system as in claim 1, wherein said sensor includes wireless transmitter means for transmitting data to said alarm clock. 
     
     
       7. An intelligent alarm system as in claim 1, wherein said alarm clock further comprises a display. 
     
     
       8. An intelligent alarm system as in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is programmed to generate a normal wake up time alarm signal in the absence of snow conditions detected by said sensor, and an earlier snow wake up time alarm signal when snow conditions are detected by said sensor. 
     
     
       9. A method for generating an early wake up time alarm signal during environmental conditions in which a user expects adverse driving conditions comprising providing a sensor inside a building, said sensor adapted to detect environmental conditions outside the building and to generate a data signal corresponding to said conditions, wherein said sensor comprises a photo sensor and focusing means for measuring reflectance at a point outside of and remote from said building, providing an alarm clock having a microprocessor, said clock adapted to receive said data signal, and generating an alarm signal at a different time than the normal wake up time when adverse conditions are detected. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said adverse conditions are snow, and said sensor comprises a photo sensor and focusing means for measuring reflectance at a point outside said building. 
     
     
       11. An intelligent alarm system comprising: a sensor for use inside a building to detect the environmental conditions outside of said building adapted to generate a data signal, wherein said sensor includes focusing means adapted to defocus the near field so as to avoid a false reading due to frost on a window;   an alarm clock having a microprocessor for receiving said data signal from said sensor and generating an alarm signal in response to said data signal.